 Finally some good news on the labor front---if nothing else, it suggests that at least one factory here may keep it's labor force intact! Local workers were a bit concerned last year when Diamond Foods bought Pringles from P & G, and were especially nervous when the deal was put on hold as Diamond's finances were questioned. Diamond backed out of the deal after their accounting practices came under scrutiny....their CEO & CFO were both placed on administrative leave last week Kellogg swooped in and grabbed up the Pringles properties for $2.7 billion and according to Kellogg boss John Bryant, they may take a look at some of Diamond's other product lines in the near future (Pop Secret & Kettle Chips). The acquisition of Pringles (the final deal is set for this summer), will put Kellogg into a solid #2 position behind Pepsico's Frito Lay as a world-wide leader in snack foods. Locals are surely relieved that a stable company such as Kellogg, which focuses on cereals & snacks, will likely be their future parent company. ----- If local factory layoffs or closings have put you or someone you know in a financial strain, call us to consider various legal remedies which may be possible. Initial consultation is free! Call 423-1888.  West Tennessee has been dealt yet ANOTHER blow which may result in another 250 workers transitioning into joblessness. The CEO of Lennox, Todd Bluedorn, in a webcast address to shareholders announced that "...we are pursuing strategic alternatives for Hearth." Bluedorn is referring to the 'hearth division' of Lennox, which consists of three plants producing fireplace hearths for their company. One of those plants is in Union City and employs 250. In his address to shareholders, Bluedorn did not detail what the 'strategic alternatives' will be, but word in the business world is that the division is up for sale. What predicated this 'strategic alternative' decision is the hearth division costing the parent company $9.5 million in losses last year. Bluedorn said in his speech that "Hearth is a business within our residential segment that is highly tied to new construction. With single family homes starts at the lowest on record in 2011 and the business in a loss position, we had impairments in the fourth quarter." He also added, the hearth division "is considered non-core to Lennox International" and followed with a notation that it accounts for less than 3% of company revenue. (In other words, it's a division that can be scuttled and it's best for the company and the shareholders.) With the housing market still looking soft for 2012 and beyond, and Lennox unable to use their formidable marketing power to create a demand for the product...why would anyone buy the division when it goes up for sale? Our position is that Lennox has made the decision to close the division, and the three plants, and is going through the motions of putting it 'up for sale' for positive image purposes only. Don't be surprised when they announce the plants will close after a buyer couldn't be found. The handwriting is on the wall. This falls on the heels of Titan's luke-warm idea of opening the doors of the former Goodyear plant to entrepreneurs (see our blog with info here) and the announcement from Briggs & Stratton that they will be closing their Newbern plant in May (see that blog with info here). All combined, Obion County and West Tennessee is about to lose over 2,200 jobs over a 12 month period, and there is nothing on the horizon which suggests even a small percentage of them will be able to find work elsewhere. If you, or someone you know is in financial difficulty due to plant closings, contact us for a free consultation regarding possible legal remedies for your situation. Call us at (731) 423-1888. You can read the entire transcript from the shareholders webcast here.  In a video published on our website on February 4th, 2012, Verner discussed whether someone who files bankruptcy will have their name published in the paper. The question of the week was: “This may sound like something I shouldn’t be concerned with....but I am. If I file bankruptcy, will my name be in the paper?” The simple answer is – yes, it is very likely that your name will appear in the paper, assuming your local paper takes the time to search the records and publish that record. Also, most newspapers have a website that publishes information mirroring their paper and the fact of your filing bankruptcy might be published on their website. The filing of a bankruptcy petition is a matter of public record. The public, including the newspapers, have free access to all court records unless a judge issues an order that a particular record or file is to be sealed, meaning the public cannot access the record. It is very rare that judges seal records in bankruptcy court except to protect confidential information such as a date of birth or asocial security number to prevent identity theft. If you are concerned about the possibility of your name being published on a website or your name being published in your local paper, take a look at the list of West Tennessee and Middle Tennessee newspapers below. This list gives the web address and contact information for all the newspapers in West Tennessee and Middle Tennessee. Go to their website and determine whether they maintain a data base for bankruptcy filings or some type of search box that will search public websites for bankruptcy filings. You could also call the local papers that cover your area and simply ask if they publish bankruptcy filings on their website or in their paper edition. If you want advice on filing bankruptcy and the consequences of filing bankruptcy, I would be glad to talk to you. I offer a free consultation and you will not be charged a fee unless I am able to help you. Phone (731) 423-1888 or (615) 371-6136. Here is the list of newspapers that cover the jurisdiction for the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Tennessee, Eastern Division --- click the link to go to the website and/or get contact information for your local newspaper: Covington CovingtonLeader(A) (C) (F) (T) (W) Dresden Dresden Enterprise(A) (C) (W) Dyersburg State Gazette(A) (C) (F) (T) (W) Huntingdon Carroll County News-Leader(A) (C) (W) Jackson Jackson Sun (A) (C) (F) (T) (W) Linden Buffalo River Review(A) (C) (F) (W) Martin Weakley County Press(A) (C) (F) (W) Milan Mirror-Exchange(A) (C) (F) (W) Paris Paris Post-Intelligencer(A) (C) (F) (T) (W) Savannah Savannah Courier(A) (C) (F) (W) Selmer Independent Appeal(A) (C) (F) (W) Tiptonville Lake County Banner(A) (C) (W) Union City The Messenger On-Line(A) (C) (F) (W) Here is the list of newspapers that cover the jurisdiction for the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, Nashville and Columbia Divisions --- click the link to go to the website and/or get contact information for your local newspaper: Ashland City Ashland City Times(A) (C) (F) (W) Clarksville Leafchronicle.com(A) (C) (F) (T) (W) Dickson DicksonHerald(A) (C) (F) (T) (W) Fairview Fairview Observer(A) (C) (F) (T) (W) Franklin Review Appeal(A) (C) (W) Franklin Williamson Herald(A) (C) (F) (T) (W) Lewisburg Marshall County Tribune(A) (C) (W) Murfreesboro Daily News Journal(A) (C) (F) (T) (W) Murfreesboro Murfreesboro Post(A) (C) (F) (W) Murfreesboro Rutherford Reader(A) (C) (W) Nashville City Paper(A) (C) (F) (T) (W) Nashville La Campana(A) (C) (F) (T) (W) Nashville Mundo Hispano(A) (C) (F) (T) (W) Nashville Nashville Business Journal(A) (C) (F) (T) (W) Nashville Nashville Scene(A) (C) (F) (T) (W) Nashville Tennessean(A) (C) (F) (T) (W) Nashville Tennessee Tribune(A) (C) (F) (T) (W) Springfield Robertson Co. Times(A) (C) (F) (W) If you need help handling your creditors and want to explore you options both inside and OUTSIDE of filing bankruptcy, call the office today at (731) 423-1888 or (615) 371-6136. In a free consultation, we will help you determine the effects that filing bankruptcy will have on your individual financial situation and help you come up with a plan of action to help “get your life back!”  Congratulations to former Jackson Middle School, Liberty High School, and now Murray State University basketball player Jewuan Long! Jewuan has played an instrumental role in the MSU Racers' amazing basketball season, currently the only unbeaten college basketball team in the nation! Jewuan has started in all 22 games and is averaging 8.6 points per game. When he played at Liberty High School, he helped lead the team to two TSSAA AA state championships, was selected as MVP in the 2006, and named Mr. Basketball in 2007. Long and the Murray State Racers have been playing in front of sold out crowds recently, and the current USA Today Coaches poll has them ranked at #9 in the nation, just behind such powerhouses as Kentucky, Syracuse, Ohio State, Duke, and North Carolina. Pretty good company for sure! So congratulations to Jewuan, representing Jackson and West Tennessee as he plays well for the MSU Racers! You've made us proud. For other blog posts, visit Verner Smith's blog page here.  Instead of answers, news this week about the former Goodyear plant and new plans for the building...has just created more questions. The latest news regarding the plant which used to employ 900 workers, is that the new owners: Titan International, plan to try some unheard of business strategy. A strategy which MAY or may NOT put 300 people to work before the end of the year. Activity at the plant over the last couple of weeks and rumors on the streets got some folks excited, but apparently based on wrong rumors and misinformation. According to a report from WPSD TV (the video report is embedded below), Titan is going to be working with yet 'another' ownership group who will be subletting the building out to local entrepreneurs who can then run their own tire-related businesses. A sort of 'condo plant'. The report says that up to 300 jobs are possible with this new idea, but exactly how it will work is still unclear. What will the qualifications be? Where will potential business owners secure their financing? What sort of end-product can be produced? The list of questions is endless. One thing is abundantly clear however: things will never be like they were. If you or someone you know has been financially affected by the Goodyear closing and needs help, contact our office at (731) 423-1888 for debt resolution options. See other blogs and updates on our website's main blog page here.  News today that Briggs & Stratton will be closing the Newbern plant by May 15th is another blow to a West Tennessee labor market already crippled due to Goodyear and Milan Arsenal shut downs. Briggs & Stratton's corporate news release says they will move some operations to their Georgia plant, but will (in the process) be eliminating 690 jobs in the U.S. Those jobs are 240 regular employees and 450 temporary jobs, all at the Newbern facility. The company says the moves reflect sharp declines in demand for U.S. lawn and garden products. Briggs & Stratton said the market has declined more than 33 percent since 2004. "This significant and prolonged market decline is unlike any other this industry has seen in decades," said CEO Todd Teske in a release. The actions "will better align our production capacity to the markets we serve." We will have additional updates on this story as it unfolds. Meanwhile, if you or someone you know has been financially impacted by company closings or layoffs in the past year, at the law offices of T. Verner Smith we can help with debt resolution or other debt reduction options. Call us for a free consultation (731) 423-1888. See other blogs and updates on our website's main blog page here.  The PBR Bud Light Bullriding Classic is coming to Jackson and West Tennessee Friday & Saturday night, January 20th & 21st at 8:00 pm at Oman Arena. America’s original ‘extreme sport’ will feature cowboys and bucking bulls as the cowboys compete for top prize money. Some of the meanest and toughest bulls are being brought in for this event. Join the crowd watching the non-stop, fast-paced bull riding as the cowboys try to hang on for that famous eight-second ride. We are giving away a pair of tickets to Saturday night. We will be taking the first 50 entries (& entering those who 'like' us on facebook a 2nd time) and drawing a number at random to determine the winner. CONTEST DEADLINE is over. We will be drawing with the help of random.org and will be contacting our winner. Thank you for entering! To get more info about buying tickets for Friday night or Saturday night click here. UPDATE: The random number generator selected #16, and the winner is Michelle G! Michelle has already been contacted and says her boys will be very excited about seeing the Bull Riding. Thanks to everyone who participated!  Happy New Year? In the first week of 2012, reports indicate 399,000 people filed for unemployment. All 399,000 were first time jobless claims. In addition there were 3.63 million who continued their claims. Add to those numbers the millions who are receiving benefits under emergency federal programs, and the number tops 7.3 million who are receiving unemployment benefits. So while you are inundated with news about how the unemployment is 'dropping' (8.5% in december) you should know that some economists are concerned that the drop is due to discouraged workers who are just opting out of the labor force altogether. If the 2011 economy has left you in a difficult financial situation, call us for debt resolution options and possible bankruptcy choices. (731) 423-1888 How to achieve New Years Resolution SUCCESS! 01/09/2012
Did you have a few New Year resolutions that crossed your mind as you entered 2012? If you’re even somewhat serious about achieving those self improvement goals, here are a few ‘how to’ tips that can increase your chances of success. The first step seems to be the simplest, and yet it’s the most important one: 1. Write them down! Research has proven that simply writing down your goal can increase your chances of success by 30%. Wow! That’s actually quite important when you realize that simply writing them down (keyboarding doesn’t count!) somehow makes an important mental-personal commitment giving you a 30% edge in achieving what you want. So write them down. 2. Numbers! As an important addition to the previous step (important enough to give this part its own number): put a number on it. If you want to lose a certain number of pounds, write down the number and put a date on it: “I will lose 15 pounds by March 1st.” If you want to whittle down your debt, donate more time to community service, increase your strength, add to your income, whatever the goal….put a number and a date on it. Remember to pick a number & date that qualify by being (a) realistic, but still (b) a bit of a stretch for you. There’s little need to have a goal for change, unless there’s enough of a stretch that you will feel proud of your accomplishment. 3. Outline your plan. Decide how you will achieve your goal. The plan doesn’t have to be overly detailed, but any goal should have a few simple steps to start you on your journey to success. If you truly have no idea what steps would help, a quick Google search will reward you with several lists of suggestions for your chosen goal(s). 4. Talk about it. Share your plan with your positive friends. Note that I said positive friends. Not everyone who is close to you will truly be happy about your changes, as it may affect them. Ask any smoker how many of their closest friends ultimately talked them into a cigarette break, for whatever reason. So choose someone you trust and who will be a positive support for you. If you don’t have someone who fits that category, there are several support groups and forums online who can be positive allies. 5. Track your progress. Alongside your written goals, routinely revisit them and write down your progress. Don’t be discouraged if the pace seems slower than you expected. It’s better to fall down and get back up, than to fall down and stay there. And finally, 6. Reward yourself! When you achieve your goal, give yourself a little party, celebrate with something that really feels rewarding. Regardless of what your New Year Resolutions are, you can achieve them with the help of those six steps. We wish the best for you in 2012! 283 people were killed in Tennessee last year in traffic crashes involving drivers with a blood alcohol level of .08 or higher. 283 deaths. The majority of them innocent victims. When attending Holiday parties, oftentimes there is an option (or even encouragement) to have an alcoholic beverage of some type. Are you aware that a 120 pound person can reach the .08 blood alcohol level by consuming only two drinks? At 180 pounds, it's as few as four. Researchers have found that anyone with a .08 alcohol level is ELEVEN TIMES more likely to be involved in a wreck than someone who is sober. The Tennessee Highway Patrol and other law enforcement agencies will be stationed throughout Jackson and West Tennessee this Holiday season enforcing their 'booze it and lose it' campaign. If you aren't aware of the consequences, here are the penalties to consider: DUI (amended as of 1/1/11) now constitutes any intoxicant, marijuana or controlled substance which affects your ability to drive, OR a blood alcohol content of .08 or higher. Penalties are stiff for even a 1st time DUI offender: 48 hours in jail. If .20 blood alcohol or higher, minimum 7 days in jail. Lose your license for 1 year. DUI school. Up to $1,500 fine. Pay restitution to anyone who was injured or personal loss. Plus other penalties. Average overall cost including penalties, legal needs, insurance, etc: $4,900. If your DUI accident resulted in serious injuries to someone, you could face up to 12 years in prison, plus multiple additional penalties. Penalties for multiple DUI offenders are very serious. See the list of offenses and the range of penalties here. Should you decide to add alcohol to your Holiday plans this season:
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